Obstetrical drape



3, 1955 s. D. SHAFFER ETAL SUSAN D SHAFFER CARVELO SHAFFER BY M 411 MM 001. 777 XTT'YS United States Patent 0 OBSTETRICAL DRATE Susan D-,. afi. ',.a d.Caryel Q- Sha ter, Benton .Harbor, Mich.

Application August 19, 1953, Serial No. 315,193 7 c1, ize-132 This invention relates in general to an improved type of obstetrical drape adapted for use to be placed over the patient at the time of childbirth.

It is customary practice at the present time to place the patient on an obstetrical table and to elevate the legs and support them on obstettical ci'utches. The commonly used drape which is placed over the patient at the present time has many disadvantages. The present drape includes a rectangular .sheet of material which has a pocket attached thereto, one at each {edge thereof, for the purpose of receiving the patients legs. The entire width of the drape or sheet 'is then allowed to extend downwardly toward the floor between the patient s leg s where a pan is located for receivingthe amnionic fluid, membranes, placenta, etc, resulting from the childbirth.

An opening is customarily provided at substantially the center of the sheet so that the patient may be completely covered except the area where childbirth occurs which is exposed to permit the attending physician to operate.

Since the entire width of the sheet extends downwardly toward the pan from the level of the obstetrical table, it is cumbersome and usually becomes heavily stained with blood and the aforementioned fluids. This creates a tremendous laundry problem and 'more of the sheet becomes stained than is necessary because of the bulkiness thereof and the unnecessary amount of the sheeting which is required to be allowed to extend from the table to the floor.

Likewise the leg receiving pockets normally fixed .or attached to the sheet add to the expense of manufacture as well as the expense and difficulty in laundering.

The present invention, therefore, has as its principal object the provision of a new and improved form of obstetrical drape which is designed to overcome all, or

most, of the disadvantages heretofore present in the drape i presently used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an obstetrical drape which may be formed of a disposable material, if desired, and which is economical to manufacture so that the expense of laundering may be eliminated entirely.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of obstetrical drape having all of the covering qualities of those heretofore known but which is designed to eliminate the bulkiness and difiiculty of handling inherent in the obstetrical drapes presently in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an obstetn'cal drape where leg receiving pockets are formed at each side of the sheet of material as an integral part thereof thereby eliminating the disadvantages of the separate leg pockets present in drapes currently used.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an obstetrical drape which consists of a sheet of material having a substantially centrally disposed opening therein and which has formed as an integral part thereof a pair of end flaps adapted to cover the legs of the patient and wherein an intermediate flap is provided in spaced relation to the end flaps so that only the intermediate flap extends toward the floor from the obstetrical table, thus eliminating the bulkiness of the entire sheet as mentioned hereinabove.

Still another and specific object of the invention is to provide an obstetrical drape which consists of a sheet of disposable material, such as paper, which has end flaps formed as a part thereof for covering the legs of the patient and an intermediate flap spaced from the end flaps which is adapted to extend downwardly from the patient toward the floor. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a patient illustrating the improved form of obstetrical drape in actual use;

2 is a plan view of the obstetrical drape embodying the present invention, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drape shown in Fig. 2 but illustrating more clearly the leg pockets on the opposite side thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and especially .to ,Figs. 2 and 3, there is illustrated an obstetrical drape embodying the features of the present invention. The .drape is formed .of a sheet of suitable material. The material may be cloth of a type having a soft texture or the preferred form of the invention contemplates the use of a disposable material such as kraft paper. There is a type .of kraft paper which is relatively inexpensive ,and which is extremely soft to the touch and flexible which is especially Well adapted for use in this invention.

The drape is in the form of a substantially rectangular sheet generally indicated by the numeral 1. The sheet has side edges 2 and 3, the top edge 4, and a bottom edge 5. A flap .6 extends outwardly from the bottom edge 5 at one end thereof and a similar flap 7 extends outwardly from the same edge 5 at the osite end of said edge. As may be seen later, these end flaps 6 and 7 are adapted to form coverings for the legs of the patient and may be made into pockets.

Anintermediate flap 8 also extends outwardly from the same bottom edge 5 in spaced relation to the end flaps .6

r and 7 whereby the spaces 9 and 10 will result between the intermediate flap 8 and the end flaps 6 and 7. An opening 11 is provided in the sheet at substantially the center portion thereof to provide a Working area for the attending physician.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 where the opposite side of the sheet 1 is illustrated in perspective, it will be noted that an additional piece of material may be suitably secured around three edges thereof to each of the end flaps thereby to provide leg receiving pockets. For example, the end flaps 6 may have a piece of material 12 of substantially the same size and shape as the flap 6 secured thereto, such as by stitching or otherwise along the inner edge 13, the outer edge 14 and the bottom edge 15. Thus, the upper edge 16 is open so that the material 12 and the flap 6 cooperate to form a leg receiving pocket integral with the sheet of material 1.

The other end flap 7 likewise has a piece of material 17 secured to the flap 7 along the inner edge 18, the outer edge 19 and the bottom edge 20. The upper end 21 of the material 17 is left free of the sheet thereby providing an integral leg receiving pocket at the opposite edge of the sheet.

For purposes of convenience herein the two leg receiving pockets may be identified generally by the numerals 22 and 23. Referring to Fig. 1 then, the use of the drape embodying the elements of the present invention is illustrated as it may be applied to a patient. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the sheet 1 may be draped over the patient and the legs of the patient will be completely enclosed within the leg receiving pockets 22 and 23. V The spaces 9 I and 10 between the intermediate flap 8 and the end flaps 6 and 7 will permit theintermediate flap 8 to drop downwardly between the legs of the patient with the opening 11 it eliminates the bulky pile of sheeting resting on the floor below the operating table which is inherently present 7 in theme of obstetrical drapes heretofore known;

' The relatively small intermediate flap formed in spaced relation to the'leg receiving pockets at each side of the sheet enables. the use of less material and it has also been found that if a cloth material is used, there is apt Q l to be less of the material stained thereby making it easier to launder.

It has also beenfound that if a disposable material,

such as a Kraft paper, is used the sheet can be made inexpensively and may be disposed of after use, thereby.

eliminating entirely the laundry problems so prevalent in V the use ofpresent type drapes.

Changes may be made. in the form, constructionand arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without 'in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

j The invention is hereby claimed as follows: i

f V 1. An obstetrical drape of the character described com prising, a sheet having a substantially'centrally disposed opening therein, spaced apart end flaps atopposite sides of said sheet and integral therewith and adapted to cover the legs of the. person over whom the sheet is draped, and an intermediate flap also integral with said sheet and i extending outwardly from an edge thereof in spaced relation to said end flaps.

2., An obstetrical drape of the character described 'com prising, a sheet of relatively soft, flexible material having a substantially centrally disposed opening therein through V 'which a physician may Work, spaced apart end flaps ex tending outwardly in substantially parallel relation from an edge of said sheet, and an intermediate flap extending outwardly from the same edge of said sheet and spaced from 'both of said end flaps.

3. An obstetrical drape of the character described comprising, a sheet of'disposable material having a substantially centrally disposed opening therein through which a physician may work, spaced'apart end flaps extending V outwardly from an edge'of said sheet atlopposite ends of said edge, and an intermediate flap extending outwardly from the same edge of said sheet and spaced from both of said'end flaps.

4. An obstetrical drape of the character described com-.

prising,'a sheet of soft, flexible kraft paper having a substantiallycentrally disposed opening therein, spaced apart end flaps adapted for use as leg coverings and extend ing outwardly from each end :of one edge of said sheet in spaced apart relation, and an intermediate flap extending a outwardly from the same edge of said sheet and spaced from both of said end flaps.

5 An obstetric'aldra'pe of the character described com prising, a sheet of'material having a substantially cen-' trally disposed opening therein, a leg receiving pocket integral with said sheet and extending outwardly frorn' an edge of said sheet at each end thereof, and a flap also extending outwardly from the same-edge of'said sheet 'at substantially the center thereof and spaced from said I pockets. l

6. An obstetrical drape of the character described com- V prising, a sheet of a disposable material having a substantially centrally disposed openingltherein, a leg receiving pocket integral with said sheet and extending outwardly from an edge of said sheet at each end thereof, and a flap alsointegral with said sheetand extending outwardly from the same edge thereof and centrally disposed thereon in inwardly spaced relation to said pockets.

7. An obstetrical drape of the character described comprising, a sheet of a soft, flexible kraft. paper having a substantially centrally disposed opening therein, a leg receiving pocket integral with said sheet and extending outwardly from an edge of said sheet at each end thereof, 1 and a flap also integral with said sheet and extending out-.

wardly from the same edge thereof and centrally dis posed thereon in inwardly spaced relation to said pockets.

. References Cited in the file of this patent 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,167,858 Weyler Aug. 1, '1939 2,675,557 7 Kempner' Apr. 20,'l9 54 

